Mechanical stoker.



A. e. um.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

I I APPHCATION FILED SEPT- !9, I914- 1 1 3&4? E 9 Patented Apr. 27, 1915;

I 3 SHEETSSHEET l- WITNESSES Z;

A. G. ELVIN.

- MECHANICAL STOKER.

. I APPLICATION FILED SEPT-19 194- 1 13'? %71 Patentml Apr. 27 1915.,

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.-

A. GVELVIN.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1914.

Patented M1227, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

msmmc ALBERT G. ELVIN, F SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed September 19, 1914. Serial No. 862,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Somerville, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Stokers, of which improvement the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to appliances for feeding fuel to locomotive and other steam boiler furnaces, of the class or type in which the members which act directly to project the fuel into the furnace are in the form-of fuel carrying and throwing shovels, moving about vertical axes, adjacent to a firing opening in the furnace, as generally exemplified in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,058,356, granted and issued to me under date of April 8, 1913.

lhe object of my invention is to enable the advantages of a mechanical stoker of the type above stated to be attained in practice by a construction which will embody the further advantages of simplification of mechanism and reduction of the number and cost of the operating members of the appliance.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the adjoining portions of a con led locomotive engine and tender, illus tratlng an application of my invention; Fig. 2, a rear view, in elevation, of the apparatus; Fig. 3, a plan view of the shovel box and shovel; Fig. l, a vertical central section through the same; Fig. 5, a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the shovel box, showing the feed chute as delivering into the rear thereof; Fig. 6, a transverse section through the shovel, on the line :0 x of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a view, in perspective, of the shovel; Fig. 8, a horizontal section through the gear casing of the shovel box; Fig. 9, a view, in perspective, of a modified form of shovel; and, Fig. 10, a transverse section through the same on the line y y of Fig. 9.

My invention is herein, as in Letters Patent No. 1,058,356 aforesaid, exemplified as applied in connection with a locomotive engine (indicated, as a whole, by B) and a tender (indicated, as a whole, by A) which are coupled together for service, in the or dinary manner, by a draw bar, C, my invention being applied for the purpose of mechanically conveying fuel from the coal space, a, of the tender, to the firing opening, I), of the firebox, b, of the locomotive, and intermittently projecting apportioned quantities of the fuel through said opening into the firebox.

In the practice of my invention, I provide, at the front end of the coal space, a, of the tender, a supply hopper, 1, through which the fuel is supplied by gravity to the rear end of a longitudinal casing, 2*,in which there extends a screw conveyer, 2, mounted in suitable bearings in the casing. The conveyer casing issupported in such man ner as to permit of relative movements of the locomotive and tender without disturbance of the operation of the conveyor. Any suitable supporting means, as, for example, those set forth in Patent No. 1,058,356, may

be used, and as these do not form part ofrality of connected links, 8, and buckets, 8", 7

being fitted to traverse in said casing. The elevator passes over guide sheaves, 8, journaled in the casing, 8, and is actuated by a motor, 5, of any suitable and preferred construction. The shaft, 4, to which the shaft of the screw conveyer, 2, is coupled, is rotated by a chain, 4*, passing over a sprocket wheel, at, on the shaft, 4, and a similar wheel, 8, on the shaft, 8", of one of the guide sheaves, 8, of the elevator.

The fuel which is carried, by the rotation of the screw conveyer, 2, from the tender to the forward end of the conveyer casing, is dropped therefrom into the bottom member of the elevator casing, 8, from which it is elevated by the buckets, 8", to the top member thereof, which is downwardly inclined in the direction of the movement of the buckets therein. A vertical feed chute, 8, communicates, at its top, with the middle casing, and, at its bottom, with a shovel box, 9, which is fixed to asupporting plate, 9*, secured to the rear head of the firebox, b The feed chute is shown in Fig.4: as leading into the shovel box, adjacent to its front, and in Fig. 5, adjacent to its rear, the difference in location being to suit different forms 'of shovels, hereinafter described. The forward side of the shovel box is fully open to the firing door opening, 1;, of the firebox, nearthe lower side thereof, and, in the instance shown, the supporting plate covers the portion of the opening which is above the shovel box. This extension of the supporting plate is not, however, an essentialof the construction, as the closure of the upper-portion of theopening may, if de-' sired, be effected by sliding doors in the ordinary manner, as in Patent No. 1,058,356

aforesaid.

Thefuel which is raised inthe elevator casing, drops therefrom, through the feed chute, 8, into the shovel box, 9, from which successi'veportions' or charges are projected into the firebox, toward the opposite sides.

thereof, by a fuel carrying and throwing shovel, indicated, as a whole, by 11, which may, by reason of its capability of similarly performing its function in bothdirections of its forward or feeding traverse, be descriptively termed a twin shovel, and is 'fixed on a vertical shovel shaft, 12, journaled in bearings at the bottom of the shovel box. As clearlv shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7, the twin shovel comprises a hub, 11", concentric with the opening for its shaft; a vertical longitudinal rib or blade, 11, extending therefrom nearly to its opposite end; and horizontal blades, 11, extending outwardly from the bottom of the vertical blade, 11, on opposite sides thereof, said vertical blade being preferably bifurcated at its outer end, so as to form two outwardly curved hooks, 11. A horizontal cut-off plate, 11, is, in one form of the shovel, extended from the top of the hub, 11, along the top of the blade, 11, and a downwardly tapering conical faced extension, 11 is formed on the opposite side ofthe hub. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the extension, 11 is dispensed with, and the plate, 11, is of full circular form.

Swinging movements, in alternately opposite directlons, about the axis of the shovel.

shaft, 12, are imparted to the twin shovel, 11, by the reciprocating movements of a rack, 15, which is fitted to traverse in a gear casing, 9", formed on or fixed to the bottom of the shovel box, 9, said rack meshing with a pinion, 12,.fi xed on the shovel shaft, 12. The rack, 15, is coupled, by a link, 16, to the upper arm of a bell crank or elbow lever, 17, the lower arm of which is, in turn, coupled, by a link, 18, to a crank shaft, 8", of one of the guide sheaves, 8, of

arm, 19, on the the elevator. Reciprocating movements are thereby imparted to the rack, 15, by the rotation of said shaft.

In the operation of a mechanical stokerembodying my invention, the fuel which is transferred from the coal bin of the tender to the elevator casing on the locomotive, is elevated in said casing and drops therefrom into the feedchute, 8. In the con struction shown in Fig. 4, in which the feed chute communicates with the shovel box adjacent to the front of the latter, the fuel falls on the top of the cut-off plate, 11, of the twin shovel, which, when the shovel is in the rear position, prevents it from dropping into the shovel'box. As soon as the shovel swings, in either direction, away from the longitudinal central plane of the shovel box, the plate, 11, begins to open the lower end of the feed chute to the shovel box, and the fuel falls thereinto, sliding down the inclined. surface of the tapering extension, 11 which carries it toward the rear, of the shovel box, and also acts, on the return stroke, to lift the remainder of the fuel that has not been deposited therein into the the shovel reaches its full forward position,

the feed chute is completely open to the shovel box, and delivers all the fuel which it receives thereto. As the shovel returns to its rear position, the bottom of the feed chute is closed as above described, and thereafter re-opened by the traverse of the shovel in the opposite direction. When the feed .chute opens into the rear portion of the shovel box, as shown in Fig. 5, the fuel is dropped thereinto without restriction, and as the vertical blade of the shovel passes. the opening of the feed chute, said blade and the horizontal blade on its advancing side scoop up and carry forward the fuel that has fallen before them. The feed chute remains open, to feed all the fuel the elevator buckets will convey, and on the return of the shovel, it scoops up a charge for delivery by .its traverse 1n the opposite direction. The

swinging of the-shovel, in either direction, about the vertical axis of the shovel shaft, projects the charge of fuel which rests upon one of its horizontal blades, and against its vertical blade, into the firebox, and toward the side thereof farther from the advancing side of its vertical blade. Upon thereturn of the shovel, another charge of fuel is similarly projected into, and toward the opposite side of, the firebox, by its movement inthe opposite direction, to its forward position.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicatewith a furnace opening, a twin shovel facing in both directions and mounted, at one end, on a vertical shaft to swing horizontally in opposite directions for projecting fuel through the furnace opening, and means for intermittently depositing fuel upon opposite sides of said shovel alternately.

2. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, a twin shovel facing in both directions, mechanism for swinging said shovel alternately in opposite directions, horizontally, and means for intermittently depositing fuel upon opposite sides of said shovel alternately.

3. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, a twin shovel facing in both directions, a vertical shaft for said shovel, mechanism for oscillating said shaft to cause the shovel to swing in opposite directions through said receptacle,

and means for intermittently depositing fuel on opposite sides of said shovel alternately.

4. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, a vertical shaft extending into said receptacle, means for oscillating said shaft, a shovel mounted, at one end, on said shaft, and adapted to deliver fuel through said opening when swinging in either direction, and means for intermittently depositing fuel on opposite sides of said shovel alternately.

5. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, an oscillatory shovel pivoted insaid receptacle and adapted to swing horizontally through said opening, a fuel supply conduit for said receptacle, and means operated by the shovel, for 1ntermittently controlling said fuel supply to oppo-- site sides of said shovel alternately.

6. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, a fuel supply conduit for said receptacle, and an oscillatory shovel mounted to swing horizontally in said receptacle and having a plate for open-- ing and closing the fuel supply opening, to deposit fuel upon opposite sides of said shovel alternately.

7. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, of an oscillatory shovel pivoted to swin horizontally in opposite directions in sai receptacle and having a vertical blade divided at -its outer end and'curved in opposite directions.

8. In a mechanical stoker, the combination with a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, of an oscillatory shovel pivoted to swing horizontally in opposite directions in said receptacle, and comprising a radial vertical blade and horizontal blades extending laterally upon opposite sides at the bottom of the vertical blade.

9. In a mechanical stoker, the combination, with a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, of a twin shovel having oppositely facing fuel carryin and throwing blades and mounted in.

said receptacle to swing horizontally, in alternately opposite directions, and to pick up and pro ect fuel through the furnace opening in its forward movements in both d1rections, and means for intermittently depositing fuel upon opposite sides ofsaid shovel alternately.

10. In a mechanical stoker, the combination, with a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, of a twin shovel having oppositely facing fuel carrying and throwing blades, power actuated means for horizontally swinging said shovel in alternately opposite directions, and means for intermittently depositing fuel upon opposite sides of said shovel alternately.

11. In a mechanical stoker, the combination, with a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, of means for intermittently depositing fuel in the receptacle, on opposite sides thereof alternately, a twin shovel having oppositely facing fuel carrying and throwing blades and adapted to swing forwardly and backwardly through the furnace opening, and power actuated means for horizontally swinging said shovel in alternately opposite directions.

12. In a mechanical stoker, the combination, with a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, of a shovel shaft journaled substantially vertically in said receptacle, a twin shovel fixed, at one end, on said shaft and having oppositely facing fuel carrying and throwing blades, means for intermittently depositing fuel on opposite sides of the shovel alternately, a

throwing blades, power 1 tion' of an elevator casing pinion fixed on the shovel shaft, a rack fitted to reciprocate transversely to the shovel shaft and meshing with said pinion, and povfier actuated means for reciprocating said rac 14. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of an elevator casing adapted to be supported adjacent to the rear head of a boiler furnace and to surround a firing opening therein, an elevator traversing in said casing, a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with the firing opening, a feed chute leading from the elevator casing into said receptacle, a twin shovel journaled sub stantially vertically in saidreceptacle and having oppositely facing fuel conveying and actuated means for traversing the elevator in the casing, and means, actuated by the elevator, for horizontally swinging the shovel in alternately opposite directions.

l In a mechanical stoker, the combinaform, adaptedto be supported immediately adjoining the rear head of a boiler furnace and to surround a firing opening therein, an elevator traversing in said casing, a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with the firing opening, a feed chute leading from the upper member of the.elevator easing into said receptacle, a twin shovel journaled substantially vertically in said receptacle and having oppositely facing fuel conveying and throwing blades, power actuated means for traversing the elevator in the casing, and means, actuated by the elevator, for horizontally swinging the shovel in opposite directions.

- 16. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, and a twin shovel mounted to swing horizontally, in opposite directions, in said receptacle, and

comprising a shaft hub, a vertical blade exof quadrangular zontal blades projecting from opposite sidesof the vertical blade, at the bottom thereof, and a horizontal cut off plate extending from the top of the hub along the top of the vertical blade.

18. I11 a mechanical stoker, thecombination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, and a twi'nvshovel mounted to swing horizontally, in opposite directions, in said receptacle,

and comprising a shaft hub, a vertical blade extending longitudinally therefrom and bifurcated into outwardly curved hooksat its outer end, and two horizontal blades projecting from opposite sides of the vertical blade, at the bottom thereof.

19. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle adapted to communicate with a furnace opening, and a twin shovel mounted to swing horizontally, in opposite directions, in said receptacle and comprising a shaft hub, a vertical blade extending longitudinally therefrom, two horizontal blades projecting from opposite sides of the vertical blade, at the bottom thereof, and a downwardly projecting conical faced extension on the side'of the shaft hub farther from the vertical blade.

ALBERT G. ELVIN.

-Witnesses.:

C. DOWNEY, O. E. FLODINE. 

